Miss America 1991 -- Crowning

[winterwinds2]

What a Gorgeous woman

[Roody718]

What she up to now? 

[Parker528]

@Roody718 She had been working for a tv station at one point.....you might be able to reach her via youtube...got to a posting of her final night talent, then scroll down to where it is obvious she comments on her surprise to see the performance on youtube.

[ohsnapitsme59]

WHY AM I CRYING???LOL

[ljmaui68]

My dearest firend Marjorie...seeing this after all these years made me feel the same overwhelming pride & joy just like I did during that awesome moment!

[gspott699]

CAN SOME ONE PLEASE POST THE WIN BY MISS SOUTH CAROLINA..

[gspott699]

CAN SOME PLEASE POST THE WIN BY MISS  SOUTH CAROLINA..

[Parker528]

@gspott699 You mean Kim Aiken? That was an interesting crowning: Miss GA, the first runner, up, broke off more than half of Aiken's earing when they embraced before the winner is announced. Then Leanza doesn't even pin down the crown and it almost falls off a number of times down the runway.

[BarryKnightFan]

@Garland - Miss New York 1991, Marisol Montavo, was of Hispanic descent.

[dolcevitausa]

pretty but she received a luke warm reception

[VTMCompany]

marjorie REALLY played the piano and HOW !

[blkchk]

I used to watch the pageant just for Burt Parks signing. Cried everytime.

[BridgetSullivanMusic]

Holy shoulder pads......

[slej2001]

Its not really Miss America without the There She Is theme song, glad they did it and with bert!

[MsEmpressj]

The winner is haitian born. Thats the only reason why im proud and so is the vincent family to have her in their family!!

[miloandtock1]

There are some who were stunned by this win by Marjorie, but good word has it that she dominated the private interview and won talent overall, and she looked elegant and spoke well on stage that night..she was a clear winner.

[Parker528]

@miloandtock1 As a law student, she either learned debating in classes or on a club. This explains her as the best in stage/evening gown interview finals night. 2 other finalists choked badly on their words. She never hesitated starting the answer & knew her stats & info on her platform for the question. Back then the total prelim score went towards 50% of the final scores. Since she won prelim talent & most likely nail her prelim interview, she was a clear choice.

[GarlandGemini]

What a monumental moment; Sister2Sister crowning @ a National All American Pageant; plus she was the last to be formally serenaded by the legendary Bert Parks. If anyone remembers, the following year almost saw 3 Black wins consecutively with Miss New York Marisol Montalvo placing 1st Runner Up to Miss Hawaii Carolyn Suzanne Sapp...

[laarbe]

Marjorie Judith Vincent was my favorite Miss America. She was of true African American descent. She was so smart and beautiful and talented. I remember people kept saying how smart she was. She was going to be a lawyer or something. I remember one African American woman winning Miss America passing the crown down to another African American Woman to hold the title. After all these Black women were winning they got rid of the Miss Black America Pageant. No need for it. Thanks.

[Mrfamu96]

laarbe....Miss Vincent is Haitian American, not African American descent. Her parents are both from Haiti. I, too, really liked her reign.

[brownsugerkiss]

@Mrfamu96 you do know Haitian is African right????

[CoolScoobydoo]

I remember when there were back to back black Miss Americas. That barrier for a white woman's only pageant was knocked down by Vanessa Williams. This lets people know that this pageant is about talent, poise, intellect, hardwork, and inner/outer beauty.

[VanessaDipasquale]

1991 is the year I was born!

:)

see me winning a pageant on my channel!

<3

[MichG60]

Yes Majorie is of Haitian Decent! So Proud of My Haitian People

[kmb9624]

My favorite Miss America contest because it marked the first time in pageant history that a black woman crowned another. Truly historic. Marjorie was a gifted pianist and spoke eloquently about her platform of domestic violence against women during the contest. The feat would be later repeated in 2003 with Erika Harold and Ericka Harris. But, this one is truly memorable with the bonus of the late Bert Parks serenading Marjorie down the runway. Classic.

[Juliaflo]

I think you mean Ericka Dunlap, not Harris.

[kmb9624]

Yes, thanks for the correction

[Juliaflo]

You're welcome.

[missohio83]

That was so nice how they brought Bert back to sing that song! The pageants just aren't the same without him!

[Juliaflo]

I second that. Besides, I don't think the Miss America Pageant has any business in Las Vegas. Bring it back to Atlantic City.

[Parker528]

@missohio83 It was nice they brought him back for the 70th anniversary, but showed his rusty side that night when announcing the parade of winners from previous years. He turned over 2 or 3 cards with those names, skipping the winners from the late 50's until the early 70's. Was a bit of a disaster for live tv. But I am still glad they invited him back, AND he sang the theme song to Marjorie LIVE unlike the way Gary had been doing it!

[susuemikado]

Oh and I have to make the comment that classical beauty looks different in every culture...in my culture she is a classic beauty...America must have been so proud to have such a talented, intelligent, and gorgeous woman reign that year.

[susuemikado]

What a stunning woman

[mrmeadows4u2no]

Blaq 2 Blaq winners! Awesome show of skill and smart and class! Beauty from within reigns always! She won talent hands down! Luv this girl!

[simplysexij27]

Im sorry with all the beauty and all I cant stop laughing at this cheesy ass serenade! They made so many spoofs off this I cant help but laugh!

[greg2009]

It is good to see someone without "classic" beauty win Miss America.

[iluvamedic]

woo go miss louisiana :D lol

[greg2009]

It was probably kinda hard for Bert Parks to take a part in this pagaent considering the miss america organization got rid of him, but he decided to come back an serenade the new miss america.

[wntoply6]

it was bert's last opportunity to sing the miss american song, cause he died just a few months later on february 2, 1992.

[Wheeloffortunefan999]

what really angered me, is that this year, they had the gall to use a recording of bert singing it and unless i'm mistaken isn't it traditional for the ACTUAL HOST to serenade the winner?

[Parker528]

@Wheeloffortunefan999 They used the dubbing when he sang the song right after announcing out the previous yrs winners who showed up for this anniversary year. But he later DID sing the song to Marjorie live, and did sing it live always when he was emcee. But Ron Ely and Gary Collins always lip synched it.

[kamilahwalton]

I agree, I'm so upset that they have altered the pageant and minimized the glamorous aspect. Pageants are about sophistication, poise, and class... It is a celebration of positive womanhood and femininity. I always wanted to compete in Miss America system, but since they've changed it, I've renegged. It's sad.

[DriveAustra]

I agree. I just don't understand how MAO continues to get that wrong. I felt like the pageant look too much like the Miss USA pageant this year. That contest is all about becoming a spokes model. The glamour just wasn't there this year. And how could they do anyway with the traditional long runway. That's the most disappointing of all.

[Parker528]

@kamilahwalton I agree; I hated having to watch through the 90's and onward as the organization shortened & shortened the time allowed for talent, b/c of pressure by the networks, who wanted ratings & didn't think talent garnered ratings. And then to eventually narrow the talent to only 5 finalists sucked big time.

[coolcougs]

If you look at the crowning moments from the 1960's, the girls look much more surprised and emotional. It seemed more real and less rehearsed than the 1980's and 1990's!

[goodolday]

She's not even African American. She's Haitian America. Odd.

[NJNupe1911]

What's so "odd" about that? African-American, Hatian-American, Italian-American, we all ORIGINATE from somewhere!

[Cantstopdamuzik]

And where do you think the dark skinned Haitians came from, Slovakia?

[77fois7fois]

Haitian american=African american=Black=American....y'a­ll need to stop it!The girl is classic beauty.This is the perfect example of the most talented contestant winning a talent contest...remember beauty contests are miss USA and Miss Universe

[missohio83]

The crowning moment is always the most exciting part of the pageant! I just love the song There She is Miss America! It was really nice how they brought Bert Parks back to sing it again. I used to always imagine that I won the title of Miss America and I got that song seranded to me...lol! I guess that wouldn't be happening anymore being I'm almost too old to be in the pageant now!

[susuemikado]

aww honey you should just go for it...I bet you'll have fun!...and theres a ton of other pageants too...you can enter pageants forever now!...and you never know I might watch you getting crowned on TV!

[Adizero70000]

@missohio83 Its ok:) Even if you never become Miss America.. You will always be Miss America in the spirit:D God Bless you!! :-)

[Parker528]

@missohio83 Perhaps this is not for me to ask OR know, but are you the Miss Ohio, Pam Rigas???

[missohio83]

@Parker528 No, I'm not. I'm just a big fan of pageants and happen to be from Ohio lol! =)

[GRomance0804]

@missohio83 quickly I must share this with you! I have a huge love for the state of Ohio. My Alma Mater is the honorable Bowling Green State University. I am a Native of New York. I also love Pagaents, competed myself one of my very great friends from my Alma Mater is Becky Minger, who was Miss Ohio America 2010. Sadly she didnt place last year and my State representive (Claire Buffie-Miss NY America 2010 did) I have to tell you I am hoping for the year When NY or OH take the crown!

[pika23]

*sigh* i used to sit up and watch this the last weekend in September every flippin year.

The have gone and bastardized one of the great AMERICAN institutions. Its a PAGEANT..its supposed to be all big fluffy and glittery...thats what Pagentry IS. Now they got it station hopping and shaved down to like what 90 min? ugh! I miss this show...soooo sad. especially bc the year i could actually afford to go see it, it switched to frikkin nashville

[blaineal]

nashville? i'm 99.9% sure miss america will still be held in vegas this year, in january which they changed it to from atlantic city a few years ago...

I agree that it's sad how little of it they show now though

[772010sm]

please post miss america 1992 crowning, marjorie look beautiful giving up the crown

[natestarr07]

does erika harold count as a african american miss america

[jivecake]

Yes, Erika Harold is counted as an African American Miss America. There are 7 African American Miss America.

[australdrive]

The pageant will air on cable's TLC channel in January. The keep changing the format and you don't know what to expect when it airs from year to year now. It's interesting that the ABC Network dropped the pageant and launched the hit show Ugly Betty starring Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. They say what goes around comes around.

[kallahari]

is it me or do all the blonds look the same?LOL Yeah a black miss America Like that :)

[adelgado75]

Too bad the pageant has been taken off of broadcast television.  And worse still, they don't have that long runway.

[sexytrannie]

this was fantastic!

[sexytrannie]

wow what a greatyear for miss america! way to go miss illinois! for those who are interested in knowing this miss teaxs, suzanne lawrence died a couple of years ago from cancer

[adelgado75]

I would love to see a video of Marjorie playing the piano in the talent competion.

[booboo900]

wait a second, why did they have bert sing instead of gary? is it because they knew that bert didn't have long to live?

[bigbilly2006]

Could be, but this was the pageant's 70th anniversary and Bert, in my opinion, is the only one who could sing "There She Is".

[Parker528]

@bigbilly2006 Yes it was the 70th.

[booboo900]

how much did the other 5 receive??

[Parker528]

@booboo900 I think in order from 4th to 1st, it went 10,000, 12,000, 15,000 and then 20,000 with Marjorie getting 35,000. Her winnings from state and national allowed her to graduated debt free from Duke Law.

[booboo900]

Clint Holmes was the announcer? didn't he host a show on the bet network in the '90s?

[booboo900]

imo, his voice was perfect for announcing the winner, (meaning bert's) i say that because on most of these types of shows when the winner is announced the host basically nearly screams it

[lexlib]

can anyone post phyllis george's crowning? i know that its very memorable.

[Parker528]

@lexlib If you want, you can go to the Miss America website, and purchase a dvd or vhs tape of all the televised crowning moments. I have the vhs and love it. Phyllis had some huge hair back then!

[monicastinchcombe]

proof that some things have changed-hallelujah

[nekoexcel]

What do you see as the good changes? I think this was gorgeous! My favorite crowning.

[friendofthediva]

I unashamedly cried when I saw this video clip. I was saw it on TV that night too. The special touch of having the ultimate Pageant host Bert Parks return to sing the song was heart warming for me. I was so proud of Miss Marjorie that night. Many thanks to the person who posted this wonderful clip.

[rwel9118]

It was a great way for Gary and Burt to go out!

[drbellard]

That was great! This was a special night that I'll never forget. Thanks for this.

[latinoguy]

Great Choice. her parents were born in Haiti

[LilBrownieD]

Thank you for this video! We never get to see much of Marjorie Vincent. I got teary eyed!